Ganghwa County Accelerates Completion of Approximately 81km Coastal Loop Road
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Ganghwa County is moving forward with connecting unfinished sections of the 'Ganghwa Coastal Loop Road,' a long-standing aspiration of the region, accelerating the establishment of a comprehensive coastal transportation and tourism network.
The county currently operates a coastal loop road (Metropolitan Route 70) with a total length of approximately 81km circumnavigating Ganghwa's mainland coast. However, two sections remain incomplete: the Hwangcheong-ri in Naegogukmyeon to Changhoo-ri in Hajeonmyeon section (6.7km) and the Inhwa-ri in Yangsaamyeon to Cheolsan-ri section (11.2km), leaving the circular function unable to operate fully.
In response, the county is implementing a proactive strategy by collaborating closely with Incheon City beginning this month and investing its own budget to conduct a preliminary feasibility study for the 'Hwangcheong-ri in Naegogukmyeon to Changhoo-ri in Hajeonmyeon' section, paving the way for project normalization.
The feasibility study will reflect changed circumstances such as increased traffic volume to enhance economic viability (B/C ratio), while actively highlighting 'policy-based' evaluations such as responding to population decline and addressing transportation-disadvantaged areas to demonstrate project viability, with plans to continue securing national funding through future collaboration with Incheon City.
The county particularly plans to actively reflect recent changes in traffic and development conditions surrounding the region. With a series of major projects—including the Gyeyang~Ganghwa expressway groundbreaking, Metropolitan Route 60 elevation, and Ganghwa Economic Free Zone designation promotion—transportation demand and the necessity for improved accessibility are expected to increase significantly.
Meanwhile, while various island regions nationwide utilize coastal loop roads as key tourism infrastructure, Ganghwa County, despite possessing distinctive tourism resources such as world-class tidal flats and scenery unique to border areas and views of North Korea, has been unable to fully leverage their value due to the coastal road discontinuity.
Once the sections are connected, a coastal route linking Seokmo Island and Gyeodong Island will be completed, creating a structure where the fragmented tourism flow becomes unified. This is expected to produce a powerful synergy effect by consolidating the marine tourism infrastructure of northwestern Ganghwa into one integrated system.
A county official stated, "The completion of the coastal loop road not only elevates Ganghwa County's tourism competitiveness but also serves as a key project in improving residential conditions for residents in border areas and transportation-disadvantaged regions," adding "We will work closely with Incheon City to secure feasibility and ensure that the broken coastal loop road is completed as one unified route through securing national funding."